Gravity chute



April 7, 1931. M. GODlNEZ 1,300,067

GRAVITY CHUTE Filed Jan. 25, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS April 7,1931.

M. GODNEZ GRAVITY CHUIE Filed Jan. 25, I929 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 VATTORNEYSApril'7, 1931.

M. GODINEZ GRAVT'TY OHUTE Filed Jan. 25, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 mamINVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IGODINEZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GIIFORZO-WOOD COMPANY, OF i iHUDSON, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK GRAVITY CIIUTE Applicationfiled January 25, 1929. Serial in. 334,966.

This invention relates to gravity chutes and, among other objects, aimsto provide an improved spiral-chute that can be manufactured verycheaply and that is designed to prevent spillage and consequent breakageof coal or other material during its descent; Also, it contemplates animproved feed hopper having provision to discharge material directly onthe pile after the top of the pile has choked up the chute, to increasethe volume of material that a chute can handle and obtain the maximumbenefit of the available storage space.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a chute embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the chute;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3+3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan View, on an enlarged scale, showing theupper convolution of the chute;

Fig. 5 is a lower end elevation of the uppermost section of the chute;

Fig. 6 is an upper end elevation of the uppermost section;

ig. 7 is a lower end'elevation of one of the other chute sections;

Fig. 8 is an upper end elevation of the chute section shown in Fi 7 Fig.9 is a top plan v1ew of the feed ho per;

ig. 10 is a side elevation. of the hopper;

Fig. 11 is a rear elevation of the hopper; and

Fig 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12 -12 of Fig. 9.

Referring particularly to the drawings, theimproved spiral chute thereshown in cludes a series of cast metal convolute sections 10 each havingan outside flange 11 and radial end flanges 12 adapted to be secured oneto the other. No inside flange is necessary because, as the materialacquires speed, its centrifugal force will prevent it from falling intothe core portion.

Herein, each section is shown as forming a quarter of a completeconvolution and the abutting radial end flanges 12 are secured to fouruprights 13 by means of the same bolts or rivets that secure thesections together. All of the sections except the top one are preferablyduplicates so that they can be used interchangeably.

The uprights 13 are conveniently made of structural angles first securedtogether or braced by spiders 14 at the upper and lower ends of thechute, and at intervals they are also braced by suitable tie rods 14*.Brace rods 15 (Fig. 1) may also be used to brace the uprights to a binwall or the like. The lower ends are adapted to be anchored in anyconvenient manner to the bottom of a bin or a pocket or on. the storagesurface.

The upper section of the chute, designated 10, is shown as beingU-shaped, hav

ing both inner and outer vertical flanges,

the idea being to prevent the escape of material as it starts down andbefore it acquires very great speed. The bottom of this section issubstantially the same height at the inside of the chute as it is at theout side. However, at the lower end, the inside portion is sharplyinclined, as shown at 16, so that its end edge is flush with andconforms to the upper edge of the next lower section 10, the bottoms ofthe chute sections below being inclined radially and inwardly, todistribute the falling material more or less evenly over the bottom. Theidea of this sharply inclined portion is to give the material at theinner edge of the chute a sharply accelerated start so that it will notspill or run out inside the core portion. Otherwise, the material wouldnot acquire sufficient centrifugal force to resist its tendency to rollinwardly oil the radially inclined bottoms of the upper sections.Moreover, the upper section transfers a uniform flow of material to thenext lower chute section gradually changing or modifying the directionof flow.

i The material is adapted to be guided into.

' of the pile.

20. It is understood that the source of supply may be an ordinaryconveyor or bucket well known in the art.

Now, the chute is effective to build up a pile of material until thepeak chokes up the upper c hute'sections. To further increase the volumein the pile, the. inclined bottom wall of the hopper has a hinged trapdoor 21 adapted to swing downwardly from the top (Figs. 10 and 11). thechute bottom has an integral "angular flange 22 to which the hinges ofthedoor and the bar are secured. This flange also acts as a door stop(Fig. 10) so that the door when swung open will guide the material tofall some. distance. from the top an eye 23 to which a flexible pu.lelement at such as a rope or chain is attachechto hold in closedposition. Herein, the pull element 1s guided overa pully 25 and isadapted to extend to any convenient place, so-

I that it may be released when desired. Thus,

additional material may be guided through the hopper to fall on the backside of the pile near the peak so that it will roll down the sidethereof and build up a thick new layer extending from the bottom. Thismethod utilizes. the material already de- 7 the over, the describedconstruction and arrangementof the chute sections hasdemonstrated thatit w ll reduce spillage and consequent breakage of coal to a minimum.Also, due

to the initial acceleration of'the material,

7 the capacity of the chute is greatly increased.

7 Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particularembodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, itis notindispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly,since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations andsub-combinations.

What Iclaim is V I l. A lowering chute of the character clescribedcomprising a plurality of uprights; a series of convolute flanged, chutesections, placed end to end and secured together and clinedinwardly anddownwardly; the convolute chute sections together providing a helicalchute whose outer edge is provided withan upstanding flange for guidingthe material and to aid in attachment of the several chute sectionswithin the uprights; and braces secured to the uprights and ex- Herein,

This door. is shown as having I edge of the chute a high initial fallingspeed to prevent spillage over the inside edge of the chute; the sharplyinclined portion of the bottom wall being generally triangular in planand widest at the inside, narrowing toward the outside.

3. A feeding chute section for spiral gravity chutes comprising alongitudinally curved member having longitudinal, marginal,substantially vertical flanges, and-a bottom inclined downwardly towardone end; said bottom having awarped-surface at its lower end, saidsurface extending laterally across the chute section and being moresharply inclined downwardly than the bottom and of greatest width at theinside edge of the chute section so as to give material at the inside ofthe chute an increased initial acceleration as it flows downwardly.

l. A gravity chute of the class described comprising, in combination, asupporting frame adapted to be anchored at the bottom; a-seriesofconvolute chute sections supported by the frame; a feed hopper securedto the frame. and having an inclined bottom discharging into the chute;and a door in the bottom adapted to be opened to dis charge additionalmaterial on the pile after the peak of the pile has reached the top ofthe chute. I

5. A gravity chute of the class described comprising, in combination, asupporting frame adapted to be anchored at the bottom; a series ofconvolute chute sections supported by the frame; a feedhopper secured tothe frame and having an inclined bottom discharging into the chute; adoor in the bottom adapted to be opened to discharge additional materialon the pile after the peak of the pile has reached the top of the chute;and remote control means connected to operate the door. I

6. In combination with a gravity chute of the class described, a hopperconnected to discharge into the upper end of the, chute; and means todischarge material directly from the hopper after the pile chokes theupper end of the chute.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature.

MANUEL GODINEZ.

